Olympics OKs armband, but Ukrainian athlete pushes for helmet - ESPN

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych said Tuesday he still wants to compete at the Milan Cortina Olympics wearing a helmet that commemorates athletes from his country who were killed in the war with Russia even though the IOC won't allow it.

The International Olympic Committee offered Heraskevych a chance to compete while wearing a black armband instead, calling it a compromise. The IOC said the helmet — emblazoned with images of about 20 athletes who have been killed since the Russian invasion in 2022 — violates Olympic rule on political statements.

Heraskevych said he doesn't plan to wear the armband.

«We will continue to fight for the right to compete in this helmet,» Heraskevych said after his two training runs on Tuesday. «I truly believe that we didn't violate any law and any rules.»

He plans to wear the helmet again for the final training runs Wednesday in advance of the heats Thursday.

The IOC wrote to the Ukrainian Olympic Committee that it «was a fundamental principle» that the Games have to be separate from «political, religious and any other type of interference.»

«What we've tried to do is to address his desires with compassion and understanding,» IOC spokesman Mark Adams said Tuesday. «He has expressed himself on social media and in the training and, as you know, we will not stop him expressing himself in press conferences, as he leaves competition in the mixed zone and elsewhere. We feel that this is a good compromise in the situation.»

Heraskevych can evidently train in the helmet without risk of IOC sanctioning. The IOC told the Ukrainians that Heraskevych would not be able to «compete» in the personalized helmet. It says the matter falls under Rule 50 of the